North Lido Beach

400 Ben Franklin Drive,
Lido Key, FL 34236

North Lido Beach is located on Lido Key, one quarter mile northwest of St. Armand’s Circle, off John Ringling Blvd. The beach is easy to get to, yet visitors experience privacy. Caution must be used when swimming at this beach for there are no lifeguards on duty and the currents are very swift.

77 acres of land

3,000 linear feet of gulf beach frontage

fishing

nature trail

No lifeguards on duty.

parking

passive recreation

swimming

undeveloped land

History:

North Lido Beach was purchased by the City of Sarasota in 1977.

The beach is still city owned, but county operated and maintained.

During December of 1990, the City Commission approved a three step North Lido Management Plan developed by the Sarasota County Parks and Recreation . The plan, which has been created in order to maintain and preserve the natural beach, was implemented in January 1991. It includes a cleanup campaign, protection of nesting birds, designation of a trail system, and vegetation management.

The beach is easy to get to, yet visitors can experience privacy.

Please use caution when swimming at this beach for there are no lifeguards on duty and the currents are very swift.

Lido Beach

400 Ben Franklin Drive,
Lido Key, FL 34236

Lido Beach is located on Lido Key, one half mile southwest of St. Armand’s Circle, on Ben Franklin Drive.

Amenities:

15 acres of land

3,100 linear feet of gulf beach frontage

400 parking spaces

beach wheelchairs

concessions

gift shop

handicapped accessible observation decks

indoor rental, swimming.

Lifeguards are on duty year round.

picnicking

playground equipment

recreation building

rest rooms

swimming

History:

Since the opening of Lido Key to automobile traffic in 1926, Lido Beach has been a popular spot for bathers.

In August of that year John Ringling, Samuel Gumpertz, and Owen Burns built a $30,000 pavilion, dock and bathhouses south of the present park.

In May of 1940, the Lido Beach Casino opened on a 1300 foot section of Lido Beach which the City of Sarasota had purchased from the John Ringling Estate.

Designed by Ralph Twitchell and funded partially by federal WPA money, the $250,000 Casino combined Art Deco, Modern and Frank Lloyd Wright features to create a sparkling modern structure which became a magnet for residents and visitors.

By the end of the 1950’s poor management had resulted in a deteriorated building and an operational debt. A bond issue to remodel and modernize the Casino passed in 1964, but the building was demolished in 1969 before any work was done.

The remodeling and modernizing took the form of a new building which was designed by Edward J. “Tim” Seibert and opened in 1970.

This site became the responsibility of Sarasota County to operate and maintain as the result of the consolidation of the City of Sarasota and County Parks and Recreation on April 1, 1990.

(city owned, county operated)

South Lido Beach

190 Taft Dr. and 2201 Ben Franklin Dr.
Lido Key, FL 34236

South Lido park is located on Ben Franklin Drive at the southern tip of Lido Key. The 100 acre park interacts with four significant bodies of water; The Gulf of Mexico, Big Pass, Sarasota Bay and Brushy Bayou. The southern, beach portion of the park offers expansive views of the emerging skyline of downtown Sarasota and the Gulf of Mexico. It also has a great picnic area that is shaded by towering Australian Pines. A separate facility at the north end of the park offers its own nature trail which includes scenic overlooks and boardwalks. Also, at the northern portion of the park are rest room facilities, a picnic area, a canoe launch, and a self guided canoe trail.

Amenities:

100 acres of land

640 linear feet of gulf beach frontage

3,500 linear feet of Big Pass frontage

Designated swimming areas are marked due to very swift currents.

canoeing, self-guided trail

fishing fitness/jogging trail

grills

Lifeguards on duty during weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

multi-purpose field

nature trails (2)

parking areas

passive recreation area

picnicking

play equipment

observation tower and decks

rest rooms

swimming

undeveloped land

volleyball court 1 outdoor/beach

Siesta Beach

948 Beach Road
Siesta Key, FL 34242

Siesta Beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches found anywhere. At the “Great International White Sand Beach Challenge”, Siesta Beach was recognized as having the, “whitest and finest sand in the world.” Shallow water depth in the near shore areas together with year round lifeguard protection, make this one of the safest most popular beaches in the County.

Amenities:

40 acres of land at this beach

2,400 linear feet of gulf beach frontage

available for rental: group size picnic shelters(2)

13 beach accesses along Beach Road with limited parking

20 station fitness trail

800 space parking lot

ball field

beach wheelchairs

concessions

grills

Lifeguards are on duty year round.

pavilion

playground equipment

rest rooms

safety building which includes an information area

Special events throughout the year including:

Kids’ Summer Fun Run Series

Sand Sculpturing Contest

Sandy Claws Arts and Crafts Festival

Sandy Claws Beach Run

“Say I Do Again”

small size picnic shelters(8)

soccer field

tennis courts(4 lighted)

tree shaded picnicking

volleyball courts(10)

Turtle Beach

2,600 linear feet of beach frontage

boat ramps

canoe / kayak launch area

fishing

horseshoe pits

parking area

picnic shelters

grills

playground

restrooms

swimming

volleyball court

Nokomis Beach

901 Casey Key Road,
Casey Key, Nokomis, FL 34275

Nokomis Beach is located on Casey Key directly west of the Albee Road Bridge. It is Sarasota County’s oldest public beach. This is a family oriented beach and is also popular for fishing and picnicking.

Amenities:

23 acres of land

1,700 linear feet of gulf beach frontage

3,200 linear feet of Intercostal frontage

boardwalk and deck

boat ramps (2)

concession stand

dune walkovers

Lifeguards are on duty year round.

parking

passive recreation area

pavilion

picnicking

rest rooms

small picnic shelters

swimming

Brohard Beach

1600 Harbor Drive South
Venice, FL 34285

Brohard Beach is located in the southern most part of the City of Venice, on the Venice Airport property on Harbor Drive.

Amenities:

84 acres of land

4,800 linear feet of shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico

bait shop

City of Venice municipal fishing pier

dog friendly beach

fishing

great bird watching

limited parking

passive recreation area

paw park

Pelican Man Sanctuary

picnicking

No Lifeguards are on duty

rest rooms

Sharky’s Restaurant

snack bar

swimming

United States Coast Guard Flotilla Training Center

wetlands

Brohard Beach – Paws Park

1600 Harbor Drive South
Venice, FL 34285

Brohard Beach is located in the southern most part of the City of Venice, on the Venice Airport property on Harbor Drive.

Amenities:

Dog Friendly

84 acres of land

4,800 linear feet of shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico

bait shop

City of Venice municipal fishing pier

fishing

great bird watching

limited parking

passive recreation area

paw park

Pelican Man Sanctuary

picnicking

No Lifeguards are on duty

rest rooms

Sharky’s Restaurant

snack bar

swimming

United States Coast Guard Flotilla Training Center

wetlands

Manasota Beach

8570 Manasota Key Road
Manasota Key, FL 34223

Manasota Beach is located at the west end of Manasota Beach Road. The beach is situated between the Gulf and the Intercostal Waterway. As a convenience on the Intercostals side, a boat ramp and docking facilities are available allowing access to the Bays and Gulf. The 620 feet of dockage becomes a scenic boardwalk that meanders through the mangroves. A wonderful place to spend your leisure time whether you are interested in swimming, boating, fishing, walking, collecting shells.